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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday voiced strong support for the Philippines, rejecting what he described as China’s “destabilising plans” to designate Scarborough Reef as a nature preserve.
“Beijing claiming Scarborough Reef as a nature preserve is yet another coercive attempt to advance sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbours,” Rubio said in a statement.
China’s plan has raised fears among Filipino fishermen, who worry it could further restrict their access to the disputed atoll, which is already under tight Chinese control. Scarborough Shoal lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but has been dominated by Beijing since 2012.
Rubio said China’s actions were undermining regional stability and urged Beijing to respect the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which found that China had unlawfully blocked Filipino fishermen from engaging in traditional fishing at Scarborough Reef.
With inputs from agencies